2001:764 - BARRYSFARM, Hospital, Limerick

Testing was carried out over a two-day period in May 2001, in advance of a proposed housing estate and associated services, at Hospital, Co. Limerick. The site lies within the area of archaeological potential for the medieval village of Hospital and is located next to the ruins of the medieval St John’s Church and graveyard. The proposed development is on a c. four-acre elongated site leading west from the main street, passing the eastern and southern end of the ‘old graveyard’ and culminating at the western end of the ‘new graveyard’ and to the south of the GAA playing field. Eight test-trenches were excavated across Phase 1 (the eastern end) of the site.

The most notable aspect of the site investigation was the sheer depth of topsoil, ranging from c. 0.35m (to the south) to c. 1.2m (to the north). In terms of potential archaeology, the site investigation revealed a relatively low concentration of features. The predominant features consisted of linear parallel cuts, consistent with cultivation furrows. Only four pits were identified. A deep ditch-like cut was identified in Trench 2. The feature produced some animal bones but was otherwise sterile and it was not possible to determine its exact function. It did not appear to continue into Trench 3 and may merely have been a large pit. A small, 0.8m-long section of wall identified in Trench 7 was located relatively high up in the topsoil layer. The only feature to produce finds was a small pit in Trench 3 which produced three sherds of North Devon gravel-tempered ware. The pit was located below c. 1.2m of topsoil. The remainder of the site produced moderate quantities of 18th–20th-century pottery from the topsoil. Overall, the excavated remains were indicative of sporadic agricultural activity.

44 Eaton Heights, Cobh, Co. Cork